Swift Water Rescue Team rescues lady from flood

A few weeks back when the county was ravaged by torrential rainfall several people found themselves stuck, and thwarted from further travel because of washed out roads. Fortunately there weren’t fatalities or reported sever injuries due to the flooding. However things could have been much worse if it wasn’t for brave first responders putting their lives on the line.

One such incident happened when a lady was rescued from her vehicle when swift rain flooding washed over 1460 S just over the Marian County Line. An unidentified lady was headed to linden when her car became trapped. Fortunately she was able to get help when several first responders showed up to assist in her rescue including the Linden Fire Department and other Linden First Responders.

Sometimes it’s hard to figure out how deep or what’s under the water, “the roads can look just like any other day when people get stuck,” said Linden Police Chief Eric Lee, who was very proud of all who helped with the rescue especially DPS Corral David Stewart and Trooper Daniel Britton who used their specialized training and to save the lady trapped by the rising and moving flood waters.

Everyone in the department at DPS has attended a swift water rescue school, says Stewart. However he and Britton were both trained in an advanced school called swift water technical school. That training helps in a situation like what happened last week.

According to Stewart when they show up to the scene the first thing they do is access the situation. Are there any down powerlines, or other hazards that make it impossible for the rescue that need to be cleared before they can engage? They are also looking for what the water level is on the car, how fast the current is moving and how much time they have to plan for the best way to saving those in danger.

From the resource by Fraser, Paul V., III, called Swift Water Rescue/Flood Rescue: a guide to management and response. Swift Water Rescue/Flood Rescue: a guide to management and response.

It states that “In order to provide for the safety of both the rescuer and victim, a low to high risk algorithm has evolved for the implementation of various rescue methods in Swift Water Rescue.

Under times of stress, the implementation of this algorithm helps to prevent a rescuer from endangering himself and the victim, thus providing a sound, step by step approach when affecting a rescue. As the algorithm progresses, the danger and threat to rescuer and victim increases.

The algorithm is, “Talk”, “Reach”, “Wade”, “Throw”, “Helo”, “Row”, “Go”, and “Tow” (this has been changed due to the increased safety of helicopter operations and the increased deaths of rescuers in boats).”

…”While it is safest to talk a victim into performing a self-rescue, there exists a substantial increase in danger once a rescuer enters the water. “Talk” refers to the dialogue that takes place between the rescuer and victim, and includes the rescuer directing the victim in methods of self-rescue, such as swimming to shore. If unsuccessful, the rescuer will attempt to “Reach” with an object, such as a tree branch, paddle, or pole, to the victim, so that the victim can be pulled to safety.”

In this situation that happened a few weeks back when Stewart and Britten were able to do a proper plan analysis, and equipped with the right equipment were able to walk out to the car with a safety rope and bring the lady in safely.

Stewart wanted it to be known that they couldn’t have done what they did without the brave people that were already out on the scene. “A lot of good was done by a lot of good people.”

For those not familiar with the term swift water rescue, it “is a specialized rescue discipline, which has principles and techniques that are employed in moving water.

Although some personnel may refer to it as “whitewater rescue,” swiftwater is a more comprehensive term.

There is not a single standardized definition of “swiftwater” within the rescue industry, however it is informally understood to refer to water over two feet deep that is flowing at a minimum of one knot (1.15 mph) and occurring in a natural watercourse, flood control channel, or a flood-related environment,“ according to the Department of Interior National Park Service.